News has surfaced once again that the Mets and Pirates have been engaged in talks for Starling Marte. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported that the clubs have exchanged names. Much like people who write checks, the Marte rumors refuse to die.
Marte turned 31 in October. He’s put up 24.1 fWAR in his career, including a 3.0 mark last season. Marte has bounced back and forth between center and left field in his career but the last two years he’s played exclusively in center. In 2018 he had a +1 DRS and a +3.2 UZR but in 2019 those numbers were (-9) and (-7.6), respectively.
Those numbers might be an improvement over whoever the Mets can play in CF right now but we should go in with eyes wide open that they are not good numbers at all.
Of course, the biggest question remains what the Mets would have to give up to get Marte. We’ve heard J.D. Davis, we’ve heard Brandon Nimmo and we’ve heard a package of prospects. In their only full seasons in the majors, Nimmo put up a 4.5 fWAR while Davis put up a 2.4 number. And few want to deplete the farm system even more after the Robinson Cano and Marcus Stroman deals.
Still, this seems like an idea that holds a lot of interest for the Mets’ front office. Does it hold interest for you?
Loading ...
If it’s more to add to the deal.how about Familia and J.D.? Try to offset payroll.
If the Mets were offsetting payroll as part of the deal it would be fine but I don’t want to trade a single prospect for a rental.
Sterling Marte: when did he become a superstar? Is he really better than a Nimmo/Marisnick platoon? He averages around 135 games a year in his “full” seasons, last year had as many homeruns as Jeff McNeil, but McNeil isn’t a power hitter, got busted for drug help and was suspended 80 games (perfect for BVW), and has a career .793 OPS. Plus, he just turned 31 and is two years from free agency.
If the Mets trade for him, it should be one good prospect or two “ok” prospects at most. I equate him to Stroman, and even that was an overpay, like all of Broadie’s “splashes”. He’s better on the small deals.
Can’t answer without knowing what it takes. Would I trade Nimmo straight up? Tough call but no. Davis? yes. Giminez and a lower level prospect? Yes.
Matte would plug a hole for 2 years. What is that worth. With Syndergaard and Conforto also 2 years from FA, plus the way CFs age, I see no reason to extend him.
I like our OF the way it is. Conforto in right, Nimmo/Marisnick in CF and Davis/Nimmo in left. Depending on Cespedes’ health and if we trade Smith, we may need another OF.
I think our biggest remaining need is at catcher.
Agree with Marty on this. Marte is a solid player but the cost in depth along with his age and slipping defense make me leery. The Mets can cover CF adequately right now. If I’m trading depth pieces, I focus more on a controllable quality arm or a “bigger” positional talent upgrade. I think they can upgrade the backup C without diluting talent.
Agree with your agreement!, TJ! I wouldn’t even trade Davis for Marte even up, considering the difference in ages (and the decline in Marte’s defense) and salary.
Just add a better backup catcher and sign another good reliever.
Done!
I’m a big Fan of Marte, and the Mets are in a 1-2 year Now Window.
I’m also a fan of looking at what they have… what are Lowrie and Cespedes ( and Cano???!!!)??? A Trade for Marte must include both Young MLB Players and a Prospect or Two…that would be a Pirate’s side need. Davis and a Prospect?….Dom and a Prospect?
I would give up Nimmo and a salary dump of Lowrie or Familia as Marte’s cost will only go up. The only times we won the World Series we had some
great defensive play up the middle of the diamond. While Ramos will never be a plus defender, adding Marte might be the Agee/Wilson-Dykstra CF that we need. Go for it. If we want to play adequate CF than put Conforto out there. I believe he did a better job than Nimmo.
I wish there was a “NO – he’s a big fat fucking cheater” option.
+1
Nimmo has a -7 career DRS in centerfield. Marte had a 2019 -9.7 DRS and is trending downward. Marte preformed when he used PED just like Cano performed better when he used PED. Without the PED, why would anyone expect an ageing player to perform better ? Nimmo at 27 has a upside and might improve. The Mets also have the 29 yoa Marisnick with his 2019 +5, and career +8 DRS, on the bench for late inning defense. The 31 yoa Marte is not a improvement.
Two points:
(1) The Mets need to try to reduce the number of declining 30+ year olds, not add to them. The real issue with this team is that Lowrie and Cano are clogging up the roster.
(2) If they were serious as they exited the 2019 regular season about adding a Marte type player, they would not have gotten Marisnick. Marisnick was added as a right handed defensive substitute/platoon for Nimmo. His use would be diminished with Marte in center. Nimmo in left does not need the defensive substitution (as much).
Nimmo has a career OPS of .783 vs LHP, a +1 DRS/yr in leftfeld; and -11 DRS/yr in CF; and a +1 DRS/yr in RF.
Conforto has a career OPS of .698 vs LHP; a +3 DRS/yr in RF; and a -15 DRS/yr in CF.
Marisnick has a career OPS of .701 vs LHP; and a +15 DRS/yr in CF.
A reasonable conclusion is a Marisnick does not hit enough to earn a platoon position; Nimmo is playing out of position; and Conforto although he is struggling with LHP but still should be the RF. The solution is to trade Nimmo or Conforto for a solid two way CF in his twenties. Otherwise, used what you have got and use Marisnick as a defensive replacement with an occasional start vs LHP.
I guess I am an outlier in this, because I think a Marte trade would improve the Mets both defensively and offensively. Not that Marte is a great CF (we have Marisnick for that) but he is better in CF than Nimmo. Moreover, I would not include Nimmo in a Marte trade. I want Nimmo available to sit in for Cespedes whenever needed this season. Offensively, in 406 PAs batting 3rd last year (his best position in the order) Marte hit .319/.368/.543/.911. Over his career he has been a stellar #3 or #4 hitter.
There is an additional benefit of trading with the Pirates for Marte, That is reliever Keone Kela is also potentially on the market, and a blockbuster for the two of them would reap major benefits. A potential closer, as is Diaz, Betances, and Lugo, the addition of Kela would give us a lockdown late inning punch.
The only question in my mind is would we have to give up more than Davis, Gsellman, Gimenez, and Tony Dibrell to get the 2 of them.